Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-07
OUGHT TO KNOW.
A Deer Lodge Convict Furnishes
the Journal With Breezy
Budget
Also Recommends Number oi
improvements to Further
Please the Penitents.
STRIPES AND BARS.
A Peep at Prison Life.

A Peep at Prison Life.
The territorial press from time 10 time
seems iudefsligable in pralsing the
wonderful Resources Of Montana, her
climate and educational institutions,
but refrsins from any mention what.
ever concerning the merits Of this pub
lie establishment, over which United
States Marshal Kelley rules supreme.
and of the satisfactory manner W all
In connection herewith In which be
controls IL, assisted by his Warden aud
Deputy Superintendent Thomas Nc
fsgue, and retinue Of subordinate
officers.
In order to fully inform your readers
as to the location and construction Of
the United States prison, wherein oil
the territorial criminals sentenced to
Imprisonment are incsrcerated, will
state, that prior to the completion Of
what Is now termed the ''old" (but
properly speaking the nortb) wing,
the few persons serving sentence were
domicilsd In an old log building,
formerly used, believe. by this Deer
LODGE county rs q jail, but In 1872
this present edifice was commenced,
being the north wing, which Is con-
structed entirely of stone. 70x40 feet.
containing two tiers Of cells, fourteen
cells In each tier. In 1884 there was
attached TO this wing Q three-story
building OF the same material, 50x35
feet, which was completed for occu-
pancy during 1885, and which consti.
tutes the wsrden's Office, sleeping aud
dining apartments, and kitchen OF the
officers. As the po 1ulstion Of Mon
tans increased, likewise did her GRIM
insl element, and to accommodate
this increase II became necessary to
erect an additional wing to the main
or central apartment or building,
which corresponds in dimensions
with the north wing although with
three instead Of two tiers of cells. The
whole is surmounted by Mansard
roof of corrugated tin, and adorned
with q cupola skylight. The cells,
built of brick, In y solid block in each
wing, are each eight by six feet, se, H.
rated from the main walls by cOrri-
dor eight feet vide on each side, and
five feet and six inches wide ut the
outer end of each wing; between the
other end and partition wall IL q space
of ten feet separated from the side cor
ridors by bars from floor 10 ceiling; in
this space are situated the "lookOuts"
for the guards. The cells, half facing
east and half west. are furnished with
grated doors Of chrome steel. aud are
ventilated by q grating In the rear OF
each cell, communicating with q shaft
running to the roof. The floors Of the
wings are Of stone, those OF the upper
cells OF n very hard cement. Both
wings are lighted by eleven large
windows each, in the walls, and cor
responding number In the Mansard
roof. The coDvi,ts' kitchen is log
building attached to the rear side OF
the north wing; their meals are par
taken Of In their respective corridors
mentioned above. The structure is
l75 Feet In length, Of finely dressed
and pointed stone, each window has
an arrangement or heavy 1t I'll bars
mortised in the heavy mulliops, max
ing escape impossible even in the cor
ridos, M during night and day l. ere
is q guard stationed In each wing,
ever on the alert.
Seventy feet in the rear of the prison
10 located the laundry, bathing appur-
tenance, carpenter, tailor and black
smith shops, st.re room and minor
outbLildings. These are all old time
concerns but very neat In appearance,
which is entirely due to the excellent
management of the present admins
, tratiOn. Still, the convicts' kitchen Is
very dangerous and inadequate for
present use, and an appropriation for
actual necessary improvements is
greatly desired, not only by the pres
ent officers and inmates, but by all
persons In the county. There should
be either brick or stone enclosure oi
5 the grounds and proper culinary
apartments provided. These more ex
! pensive alterations have been utterly
Impracticable through need Of an ap-
preparation, which II Is sincerely
hoped will receive immediate atten-
ton. Employment should he pro-
vided for the prisoners-a sufficient
amount of the proper kind of mschin.
cry placed here for their use, such as
iathes, looms, ETC., and where the ma
terials for their clothing Is now pur-
chased, II could be manufactured by
themselves, and at q greatly reduced
figure. This would afford a pleasant
occupation to the prisoners and at the
same time grestly relieve the taxpay-
ers. At the present time, there IL no
employ ment excepting the ordinary
prison routine, sltt ougb few Of the
inmates are engaged In hair work,
which they generally dispose OF, ap'
plying the proceeds In purchasing
"perquisites." such as tobacco, etc.
These articles wrought by them, com.
prising brides whips, watch-guards,
tides and scroll work are In constant
/ demand. being carried away a
J ''curIos" ty scores Of visitors.
The regulation uniform Is worn, the
orthodox strip OF black and white
run ming horizontally across the body
Each prisoner II sufficiently provided
with warm Undertaking and bed
ding. which il kept wonderfully clean
The food provided is equal to that o.
the ordinary artisan or mechanic, Ia
, qusllty-ss 10 quantity. there hal
never been q single 'grumble." Tb'
a. a